Astros 5-3 Angels (September 14, 2024) Match Report

ANAHEIM, Calif. – Justin Verlander got his first win since returning from a neck injury and Yordan Alvarez hit a home run in the fifth inning to lead off the game as the Houston Astros beat the Los Angeles Angels 5-3 on Saturday night.

Kyle Tucker added a pinch-hit home run, Jose Altuve had two hits and scored two runs and the Astros won their third straight and remain 4 1/2 games ahead of second-place Seattle in the AL West.

Verlander (4-6) allowed two runs and four hits in five innings after going 0-4 with a 9.69 ERA in four starts since returning on Aug. 21 from a 2½-month absence due to neck stiffness. He had two walks and two strikeouts and picked up his first win since May 24 against Oakland.

Ryan Pressly threw 1 2/3 scoreless innings for his fourth save.

Eric Wagaman, in his fifth game for the Angels, scored the first hit and RBI of his career with a double in the fourth inning. Los Angeles starter Tyler Anderson (10-13) allowed four runs on seven hits in five innings.

Altuve got the Astros going by opening the game with a bunt single and stealing second base. He went to third base after a groundout and scored on Anderson's wild pitch.

Verlander walked his first two batters before Nolan Schanuel gave the Angels their first run with an RBI single.

From there, Houston's defense took control of Verlander, starting with a pike catch in center field by Jake Meyers. That began a run in which Verlander retired nine of the next 10 Angels batters.

Astros right fielder Ben Gamel hit the short wall in right field in the fourth inning, preventing a possible RBI from Mickey Moniak, although Wagaman followed with his RBI double for a 2-1 Angels lead.

The Astros took the lead in the fifth inning when Alvarez followed a leadoff single by Altuve with a home run to right field, his 34th. With two outs, Jeremy Peña hit a single, stole second base and scored on Victor Caratini's single.

The Angels nearly tied the game in the eighth inning, but Schanuel was thrown out by Meyers at home plate while attempting to score from second base on Logan O'Hoppe's RBI single that cut Los Angeles' deficit to 4-3.

Tucker hit his 20th home run in the ninth inning, his first since June 1, after spending a long time on the injured list with a broken tibia.

TRAINING ROOM

Astros: Meyers appeared to injure his left leg in the ninth inning while chasing a fly ball down the Wagaman warning track, but stayed in the game after a visit from the athletic training staff. … OF Chas McCormick is optimistic he will be fit after breaking his right hand before the end of the regular season on Sept. 29.

Angels: RHP Carson Fulmer (elbow inflammation) is optimistic he can return to his position in the bullpen by Tuesday after spending the last two weeks on the injured list. … Angels infielders Michael Stefanic (calf) and Brandon Drury (hamstring) were not in the lineup.

Next

Astros: RHP Ronel Blanco (10-6, 2.99 ERA) has not allowed more than two earned runs in any of his last three away starts.

Angels: RHP Caden Dana (1-1, 9.00) lasted just one inning in his second career start last Sunday against the Rangers.

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